Orhan Suleiman

Orhan Suleiman (Suleyman) is the "Past President" of MATA, and has been a member since 1975, when he and his late wife, Perihan, moved to Maryland from Pompano Beach, Florida. He began his federal career at Aberdeen Proving Ground as a radiation physicist, and in 1977 moved to the federal Food and Drug Administration.

He and his wife Cathy live in Laurel, and his 2 daughters, Yildiz and Feray, along with their husbands and 3 daughters, also live in Maryland. His son, Murat, is currently serving with the U.S, Army and is stationed in Tampa, Florida. Cathy has a son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in Oregon, and a daughter in Massachusetts. Orhan has a BS and MS from the University of Florida, and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University.

He has been active in Turkish American activities as far back as he can remember. His parents and first wife were from Cyprus. Born in the Bronx, he remembers attending activities at the New York Turkish Cypriot Aid Society, which was founded during the 1930’s by his father and other immigrants. He remembers taking a chartered bus trip In April, 1958, to the new Islamic Center on Massachusetts Avenue.. It also was his first visit to Washington D.C. In the 1960’s after the family moved to Florida, he helped found the original Florida American Turkish Association, and has also served as a regional vice-president in the national Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA). He was president of MATA when the membership exceeded 120 families in the 80’s, and although MATA has gone through some lean years, he is very excited with the current Board of Directors, and believes MATA is positioned to serve the local Turkish American community for years to come.